Feeding mechanism.



C. G. BEWLEY.

FEEDING MECHANSM.

APPucATIoN mio FEB. 9. mls.

1,298,647. Patented Apr. 1,1919.

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C. G. BEWLEY.

FEDING MECHANISM.

APPucmoM man FEB. 9. Isls.

1 ,298,647. P'atent-ed Apr. 1, 19 l9.

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IN VEN TOR. @wie Viera/@ y CMMRNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLAUDE Gl'. BEWLEY, 0F SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. ASSIGNOR TO SPOKANE CONCRETE FLOWER POT MACHINE CO., INC., A. CORPORATION OF WASHINGTON.

FEEDING MECHANIBM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1, 1919.

To all rwhom t may concern.'

Be it knownthat I, CLAUDE G. BEWLEY, a citizen of the United States, residin at Spokane, in the county of Spokane and tate of Washington, have invented new and useful Improvements in Feeding Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in feeding mechanism which is especially adapted, although not necessarily limited, in its utility in connection with machines for making concrete pots, jars, and all types of receptacles and tubular bodies.

More specifically speaking, this invention has for its object to provide a feeding mechanism wherein a pre-determined and sufficient quantity of concrete ma be initiallydumped to form the bottom o the product, after which, the molds may be adjusted into position for makin the wall of the receptacle. A further object is to provide means acting automatically, upon movement of one part of the mechanism, for ,causing Vdeposit of this initial quantity for making the bottom, thereby saving one movement on the part of the o erator.

A further o ject is to provide the mechanism with a special outlet for dischar e of the material for making the wall o the product, after the bottom has been formed,

means being provided for closing this outletV until after the initial bottom forming material has been deposited, and this means servingl to close the bottom forming discharge passage when it opens the wall forming outet passage.

My invention also includes means for retarding the volume of 'flow of the material into the receiver in sucha manner as to meet the `requirements irres ective of the size of the product being mo ded. In this connection, my invention also includes an .improved dump valve for retaining the initial quantity for forming the bottom, this dump Ivalve being adjustable in the mechanism so that it will retain` either a4 relatively large or small amount dependent on the size of the product being formed.

My inventlon also includes an improved chute for conveying both the initial bottom forming material and also the Wall formin material to the molds, means being provide for automatically moving the chute out of a delivering position when the operation of the machine has reachedy a certain stage in the formation of the product.

My invention has many other features and objects Which Will be more fully described in connection with the accompanyin drawings, and -which will be more particularly pointed out in and bythe appended claims.

In the drawings i Figure 1, is a vertical sectional elevational vievv of a feeding mechanism according to my invention, showing the same applied to a machine for making concrete iiower pots.

Fi 2, is a front view With the parts in an 1nit1a position.

Fig. 3, is a similar view with the arts in position to dump the initial bottom orming material.

Fig. 4, is a plan view of the receiver Withl the hopper omitted.

Fig. 5, is a similar View more clearly showing the bottom of the receiver.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7, is a plan view of the controlling valve detached from the receiver.

Fig. 8, is a front view of the detachable dump valve and its operating lever.

Fig. 9, is a plan view thereof.

Fig. l0, is a view in side elevation showing how the valve is detachably and adjustably secured to the receiver.

Fig. 11, is a sectional view on line 11-11 of Fig. 2.

Like characters of reference designate similar parts throughout the different figures of.l the drawings. i 1 Referring to the specific form shown, 1 designates a portion of the frame of a machine for making concrete receptacles, a power driven shaft of the machine being .designated at 2. A machine 'actuated element 3 is shown to the extent of illustrating its location with respect to a part of the present invention, but its operative connection with the machine, and the manner in which it is actuated, need not be specifically Shown or described. A machine of this character employes molds, 4 bein the female mold and 5 being the ma e mold. When a machine of this character is used for making a concrete product such as a receptacle, having a. bottom, an initial deposit of concrete must be made in the 'female mold, suiiicient to form the bottom, before having a Acentral aperture 17 the nale mold is telescoped into the female mol Mounted upon the frame 1 is a support 6 on which a receiver 7 is either secured or formed integral therewith. The receiver 7, which receives material to be molded, .is provided with an inclosing wall 8, preferably cylindrical, `and a bottom wall 9. Shaft 2 extends up through the bottom wall 9 and the latter has a bearing 10 in which the upper end of shaft 2 is journaled. Shaft 2 is suitably reduced at 11 and I provide a stirrer or feeder which as shown compuses a socket 12, fitting over bearing 10 and being secured by means such as a nut 13 to the shoulder 14, formed as a result of the reductionll. rIhus the stirrer is non-rotatively secured to shaft 2, to be `driven there- The stirrer comprises a plurality lof radially yextending arms 15 which are equidistantly spaced and which sweep about in their rotative movement in such a manner as to operate over practically the entire area of the bottom 9. In the bottom A9 is provided an outlet 16, in an exten n 17, through which outlet the material is discharged for forming the wall of the product. An initial discharge passage 18 is provided which opens at 19, through lthe bottom wall 9, for discharge of the initial inaterial for forming the bottom of the receptacle. It will 'be seen that the arms 15 sweep over both openings so that irrespective lof the point of receipt of the concrete into said receiver, the material will nd its way into said openings.

Itis a feature of this invention to pocket in the passage 18, or retain therein an initial amount o'f lmaterial suficient to form the bottom `of the receptacle so that this material may 'be instantly dumped into the female mold 4, before the male mold 5 is adjusted into position.` Furthermore, because of the.

fact that this initial quantity of material must be of a predetermined volume, it is desirable 'to close the fpassage 16 until the bottom forming material has :been "dumped into fthe mold. Accordingly, I provide a controlling valve `device or shutoff which not only erforms this function but other additional functions which I will now describe.

Interoosed between the bottom wall 9 and the stirrer, is a valve which is shown more particularly in Fig. 7, and which is designated as a Whole at 16. VThis valve is preferably in the form of a flat jsheet of metal adapted to fit about the bearing 10. That portion of the structure which constitutes the valve proper is designated at 18 and is provided with a handle portion 19', extending over the wall 8, for Vmanual operation by the operator. When this-controlling valve is moved into the `position shown in Fig. 3,*the passage 16 -wiil be closed and the passage 1l9will i e opened. When the valve is in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4 the outlet 16 is open. This valve 16 is .provided .With-arms 20 and 21 which likewlseex'tend beneath the stirrer and which function, together with thevarms 18', as clearing arms for the bottom wall 9. The upstandmg portion 22, of the handle 19, together with tanding portions 23, 24 and 25 extend be ween the terminal ends of the stirrer arms 15 and the Wall 8 to prevent the concrete from clogging and bridging over from the hub 12, outwardly. Thus the valve 16', in addition to acting as a valve, also functions as a clearing device for the bottom and side wall portions of 'the receiver.

A hopper 26 is mounted on ithe receiver to deliver thereto and I preferably `extend the hopper walls 27, into the receiver. One wall portion 28 is disposed somewhat inside of the receiver and `extends straight across the same to form a retarding member. rThe functions of .this member is to retard the volume of flow of `the material through the opening 16, dependent upon the size 'of the product being molded. (Dbviously a large size product would require a flow Aof much greater volume, per minute, than a relatively smaller product. I 4desirably make the retarder adjustabie and therefore 'I provide an adjustable retarder 28 which may be secured at desired elevations by -a bolt and nut device 29, 4a handle 30 serving to facilitate ad'ustment.

It will `be clear however that irres estive of the restriction imposed upon the ow of material, the stirrer Will continuou advance the material into Vposition for d 'ivery thereby making the *flow constant irrespective of its volume.

The lower end lof the extension 17 delivers to a chute 31 which is pivoted #tothe extension at 32 in a manner to rrnit the lower end to be adjusted intoaml outof delivering relation with respect 'to the )female rnold i4. A retaining and restoring means is provided Which includes a bar 33 slifdalbly mounted for linear movement on the lfran-ne 1. The bar 33I may be pivotally secured to the chute at 34. This bar 3B is normally retracted or moved to the right of Fig. 1 by a spring 35, one end olf which is connected at 96, `to the bar 33, and the `other end of which 1s conneed at 37 to a portion of the frame of the machine. |The bar 33 has a notch 38 into which one end 39 of a loking lever y40, is `adapted to descend. The locking lever 40 is pivoted at 41 land the remaining end 42 1s adapted to be engaged by notch or lip portion 43,0famachine actuated element 3.

his machine actuated element, during certain portions of the operation of the machine, is moved up and down in the direction indicated by the double arrow in Fig. 11. A pull spring 45 normally holds the machine actuated element 3 in engagement with the lever 40. A pull spring 46 normally holds the lever 40 in a position to engage its end 39 with the bar 33.

When it is desired to deliver the material to the mold 4, the chute 31 is adjusted to the left of Fig. 1 against theaction of spring 35 until the lever 40 engages notch 38. Thereupon, the bar 33 will be locked in a. delivering position. At another time of the operation, specifically, when the rim of the product is being finished by .advancing the finisher (not shown) the machine element 44 will rise and grasp the lever 4() thereby releasing the end 39 and permitting the spring 35 to retract the chute.

I Will next describe the manner in Which the controlling valve is adjusted, throughout one cycle of operation, and the manner in which the dump valve is automatically released. However, prior to this description of operations, a detailed description of the dump valve will now be made.

The front Wall of the extension 17 is slotted as indicated at 47. The dump valve device includes a mount plate 48 adapted to fit against the front Wall of the extension 17. A bolt and nut 49 and 50 serve to secure the mount plate in any desired vertical position to which it may be adjusted. Journaled in the mount plate 48 is a valve shaft or spindle 5l which projects through the plate and slot 47 and carries on its inner end the dump valve 52. By reference to Fig. 6, it Will be seen that the dump valve is located sufficiently below the bottom Wall 9 to form a considerable pocket in which may be retained the initial material of which the bottom Will be formed. An operating lever is mounted on the outer end of shaft 51 and one end 53 thereof is adapted for engagement by a restoring cam 54, secured on handle 19. The kother end, 55 of said lever is connected with a spring 56 which normally seeks to move the lever into the position shown in Fig. 3, to o-pen the dump valve 52. A stop 57. on the mount plate, limits opening movement of said lever. The end 55 is adapted for engagement with a trip lever 58 which is pivotally mounted at 59 on the extension 17. This trip lever 57 has retaining notches 60 for accommodating the dump valve at different elevations of adjustment and for the purpose of engaging lever end 55 to hold the lump valve closed. A spring 61 normally tends to move lever 58 against a stop 62. On the lower end of said lever 58 is a slide-over terminal 63 which is hinged' to said lever at 64 in such a manner that it cannot move to the left of Fig. 1, independent of said lever 58, but to the end that it may move to the right independent of said lever. A pin 65, on bar 33 lies in the path of said slideover terminal.

Whenever the machine is stopped, or at least prior to starting the same, the handle 19 will first be moved from the lposition shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3 thereby closing up 16 and 19. Now it will be assumed that the operator is ready to till the bottom of the mold 4. Therefore, the operator will manually advance the chute 31 to the left of Fig. 1 until it is in a position to deliver to mold 4. Thus the pin 65 Will actuate lever 58 and release engagement between same and lever end 55 and this will permit the spring 56 to actuate the lever and open the dump valve. Then the male mold 5 is adjusted into position and the machine is ready for the formation of the wall of the product. At this time, passage 16 is closed and passage 18 is closed. Before starting the machine the operator will return the handle 19 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 2 whereupon the lever 55 will be horizontally disposed and the dump valve Will be closed While the outlet 16 will be open. It will be understood that during forward movement of bar 33, the pin 65 will have been advanced under, or in other words, the hinged end 63 will slide over ypin 65 thereby permitting spring 61 to restore lever 58 into a position to catch lever 55 and hold it. The parts are novv in a position as shown in Fig. 2 for material to descend through outlet 16 into chute 31 to form the Wall of. the product. This Will be continued until the Wall is built up to the required height and then before or at the operation of finishing oli' the top margin2 the advancing movement of the finisher will actuate 3 and lever 40 for the purpose of releasing bar 33. The latter will be retracted and the pin 65 Will slide under the end 63 into the position shown in Fig. 1.

It is believed that the advantages and utility of my invention will be fully underfor the molding material having a passage for initial discharge of the required amount of material to form the bottom of the product, and said receiver having an outlet for discharge of material to form the wall of the product, a chute movable into a discharging position with respect to the molds for delivering material thereto from said outlet and passage, a dump valve for retaining in said passage the required amount of material to form the bottom of the product, means actuated by movement of the chute into a mold delivery position for releasing said dump valve, and initial valve means for closing said outlet and returning said dump valve to a closed position When said initial valve means is moved into an outlet opening position.

2. In a feeding mechanism for pot, jar or like receptacle molding machines, a receiver for the molding material having a passage for initial -discharge of the required amount of material to form the bottom yof the product, and said receiver having an outlet for discharge @of material to form the Wall of the product, a chute for delivering the material from said outlet and passage to the molds, and a dump valve in said passage for retaining therein a suilicient amount of material to form the bottom'of the product, and a valve 'for closing said outlet While material is being'delivered to form the bottom of the product. I

3. In a *feeding mechanism for pot, jar or like receptacle molding machines, a receiver for the molding material having a discharge passage for delivering `a predetermined amount of material to form the bottom of the product prior to operation of the molds and also 'havin g an outlet for delivery of the Wall forming material after the molds are started, and mechanism for closing the outlet and opening said passage before the molds are started and closing said passage and opening said outlet for forming the Wall of the product.

4. In a feeding mechanism for pot, jar or like receptacle forming or molding machines, a receiver for the molding material having a discharge passage for delivery of the bottom forming material, a dump valve in said passage for retaining therein the required amouirt of material to form the bottom of the product, said receiver also having an outlet for delivery of material to form the Wall of the product, a chute movable into position to deliver from said outlet and passage to the molds, and means actuated by movement of said chute for releasing said valve to dump said retained material.

5. In a feeding mechanism for pot, jar or like receptacle forming or molding machines, a receiver for the molding material having a discharge passage for deliveryr of the bottom forming material, and a dump valve adjustable in said passage for retainingtherein a quantity of bottom forming material of predetermined quantities dependent on the size of the product.

6. In a feeding mechanism for pot, jar or like receptacle forming or molding machines, a receiver for the molding material having a discharge passage for delivery7 of the bottom forming material, a dump valve adjustable in said passage for retaining therein a quantity of bottom forming material dependent on the size of the product to be formed, and means for performing a function of one character and also releasing said valve irrespective of its adjustment in said passage.

7. In a feeding mechanism for pot, jar or like receptacle molding machines, a receiver for the molding material having an outlet, and a valve in said receiver for controlling said outlet and having arms for clearing the bottom and the Walls of said receiver.

8. In a feeding mechanism for pot, jar or like receptacle forming machines, a receiver for the molding material having an opening, and a valve for controlling said o-pening and having portions for clearing said receptacle.

9. In a feeding mechanism of the class described, a receiver for the molding material having a bottom and provided with an outlet in said bottom, a valve for controlling said outlet and having portions for clearing the bottom and the Walls of the receiver, and a stirrer operating above said valve and between said portions of the valve which clear the Walls of said receiver.

10. In a feeding mechanism, a receiver for the molding material having a discharge opening in its bottom, a'hopper having a Wall portion extending down into said receiver, a retarder adjustable vertically on said Wall portion for retarding the volume of flow through said opening, and a stirrer revoluble parallel With said bottom and eX- tending over said opening and on both sides of said retarder.

11. In a feeding mechanism, a receiver for the molding material having a discharge passage and a Wall portion in said passage having a slot, and a detachable dump valve structure comprising a mount plate, a bolt device for adjustably securing said mount plate abreast of said slot, a shaft journaled in said mount plate, a dump valve on one end of said shaft and an operating lever on the other end thereof.

12. In a feeding mechanism for molding machines, a receiver for the molding material, a chute movable into a position to deliver the material from said receiver to said molds, means locking said chute into the position to which it has been moved, and a ma chine actuated device for releasing said chute.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I hereby aiix my signature.

CLAUDE G. BEWLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, ED. C. 

